We've got the answers to your most pressing Thanksgiving questions so you can host a problem-free feast.

Thanksgiving preparation gets hectic for even the most organized of hosts. Inevitably, you get stuck with a question that sets you off schedule. Stop worrying! We have answers to the most common Thanksgiving questions so your dinner will go off without a hitch.

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I completely forgot to thaw the turkey! Is my dinner ruined?

I completely forgot to thaw the turkey! Is my dinner ruined?

Don't panic — you can do the thawing in the microwave and get back on track for your cooking timeline. The owner's manual has guidelines you can follow for the thawing. Put your turkey in a microwave-safe dish to save yourself some post-thaw cleaning and transfer it to the oven as soon as it's done thawing. If you think you might be forgetful enough to run into this problem, you can always choose a new turkey prep method that requires you to get ready even earlier, like brining.

How can I tell that my entire turkey is cooked well enough?

How can I tell that my entire turkey is cooked well enough?

The internal temperature of the turkey should hit 165 degrees F. The thermometers that come with the bird may pop early, so it's better to have your own thermometer on hand to check. The thickest parts of meat take the longest to cook, so check the temperature in these areas to make sure the entire bird is ready. If it's not quite up to temp, just pop the bird back in and check back in a few minutes.

I completely forgot to thaw the turkey! Is my dinner ruined?

Don't panic — you can do the thawing in the microwave and get back on track for your cooking timeline. The owner's manual has guidelines you can follow for the thawing. Put your turkey in a microwave-safe dish to save yourself some post-thaw cleaning and transfer it to the oven as soon as it's done thawing. If you think you might be forgetful enough to run into this problem, you can always choose a new turkey prep method that requires you to get ready even earlier, like brining.

How can I tell that my entire turkey is cooked well enough?

The internal temperature of the turkey should hit 165 degrees F. The thermometers that come with the bird may pop early, so it's better to have your own thermometer on hand to check. The thickest parts of meat take the longest to cook, so check the temperature in these areas to make sure the entire bird is ready. If it's not quite up to temp, just pop the bird back in and check back in a few minutes.

I'm starting to feel like I don't have enough food for my guests. What can I do?

Don't work yourself into a frenzy trying to prepare everything by hand. There are some products you can have on-hand, like gravy mix, just in case your guests are ravenous. Store-bought or microwavable casseroles are also a good back-up plan that can be pulled out in a bind. If you have the time, there are plenty of great bakeries that will ship you fresh, seasonal pies to lighten your baking load.

My arm is tired and the lumps in my gravy haven't gone away. What now?

If your whisk isn't working as well as you'd like it to, give your arm a break and switch tools. Run the gravy through a strainer; smooth gravy will make it through to the serving boat but the lumps will get left behind.

How much does tradition matter? Do I need to serve the same dishes?

Every family has some clear favorites on the Thanksgiving table, so make sure these stick around. There's a lot of room for interpretation around tradition; try using traditional ingredients in a different way, like swapping cranberry sauce for a zesty citrus-spiked relish. You can also try new twists on old favorites, like changing the rub on your turkey or brining it instead. As long as the dinner is flavorful, you'll have satisfied guests.

We want to fry a turkey this year, but we don't know where to start. Help!

Fried turkey is delicious, but people shy away from this preparation because of horror stories. There are simple ways to be safe. The two main issues are making sure your turkey is completely thawed before frying, and getting the bird into the frier smoothly without splashing. Using tongs to slowly lower the bird into the frier will prevent splashing hot oil, but we suggest taking time to watch some online videos if you're really nervous about the process. And make sure to do it outside — frying a turkey indoors is far too risky.

I'd rather be overly prepared. What can I do now to get ready for the big day?

Start cooking and storing food well in advance. If your family loves cheesecake, great! They can be frozen up to 2 months in advance. (Try our Pumpkin-Ginger Cheesecake, pictured.) If you want more time to focus on dinner, you can mail-order pies and cakes for a low-stress dessert spread. Choose your menu based on what can be made ahead and what you'll have to do on Thanksgiving day so you can manage your cooking load.

My dishes won't be ready at the same time. Do I wait to serve everything at once?

If some of your food is hot and ready, it's probably best to serve it to your hungry and eager guests. You can pop in the second round of dishes just as you take out the turkey since it needs to rest anyway. As you're carving the turkey and getting everyone settled with drinks, the dishes in the oven will catch up. If they're a little more delayed, just warn your guests that there are more dishes coming so they can save room and sample everything!

I dried out my stuffing! Can I fix it?

Stuffing is easy to correct! Once you have it out of the oven, add some extra stock or a pat of butter to make sure it stays moist and flavorful. Make sure it incorporates all the way so you don't have a moist stuffing with dry edges!

Should I serve appetizers before such a big dinner?

Appetizers certainly aren't necessary when you're going to sit down to a large, festive meal, but some of your guests might come over hungry. If your guests are arriving well before the dinner is ready, you might want to prep some sides that don't take too much of your time and attention away from the main feast. Don't try to juggle your cooking with gourmet apps that will fill up your guests before the bird hits the table!